User:Ukouji/sandbox

Tourism in Taiwan
Tourism in Taiwan is one of the major Taiwanese economic sectors. In 2017, Taiwan received roughly 10 million international visitors from all over the world. All tourism activities are run and managed by the Tourism Bureau of the Ministry of Transportation and Communication of Taiwan.

Land and Climate
Taiwan is located at the intersection of the South China Sea and Pacific Ocean (25.1 N and 121.5 E according to the DMS latitude and longitude). Two-thirds of Taiwan is covered by rugged and large mountains. The population of the country is concentrated at the foot of the central mountain where the land is flat. Since Taiwan sits on the Ring of Fire, it is geologically active. Thus, big earthquakes are experienced every now and then. Along with these earthquakes, there are more than 150 rivers and lakes on the island.

The north of the island experienced a subtropical climate, while the south is identified as a tropical climate zone. Most of Taiwan is warm throughout the year. With the ocean breeze effect, the island does not stay hot all year and the temperature is modified during some seasons. The average temperature of Taiwan is 22 degrees Celsius. The lowest temperature drops to about 12 degrees Celsius. Because of its climate region, several typhoons hit the island during summer and autumn. Thus, winter is safer and usually better for tourism.

History
Taiwan has a long-lasting history. It goes back to the 3rd century BCE. The first contact from China began when the Chinese Emperor sent 10,000 men to the island to explore. Later on, many aboriginal people were taught Chinese and adopted the Chinese culture little by little. Around the 7th century, fishermen from China began to settle in Taiwan. Even after the event, Japanese and Chinese pirates came to the island and used it for a few different reasons, including as a base camp. During earlier centuries, Taiwan was colonized by several different countries--- Portugal, Spain, Dutch, Japan, etc--- for its geographical features. Later on, Taiwan was returned to China despite the conflict between the Han and the Manchu Chinese people. This tension lasted until the time of Liu Mingchuan, who was the governor of the Fujian coming to Taiwan in 1885. He brought technology and built railroads, roads, and harbors. As a result, Taiwan gained economic and political power and moved up to a state of China within the next two years. The rapid advancement of Taiwan happened during the Japanese colonization era. With the Treaty of Shimonoseki in 1894, Taiwan became a Japanese colony. Although it proclaimed to be a state country, the republic of Taiwan failed within 10 days. There was not any organized government, military, or economy. Once Japan colonized the country, many improvements --creating order, improving the local government, etc.-- were brought over to the island and became one of the developed states in East Asia. It was returned to China in 1945. In 1949, Mao Zedong’s communist party forced the nationalist party to flee mainland China to Taiwan. Chiang Kai-shek led his nationalist party to Taiwan and established a new government there. This led to the current state of Taiwan. Since then, Taiwan prospered in a democracy while these effects still influence modern times in Taiwan. The Taiwanese historic sites are the most popular destinations for inbound tourists. .

Population
The current population of Taiwan is 23,673,639 based on the latest United Nation estimates in 2018. The total land area is 35,410 square kilometers and the population density in Taiwan is 669 per square kilometers. The population is increasing by 0.29 % each year.

Government
The capital city of Taiwan is Taipei. Since the Chinese Civil War in 1949, the central government of the Republic of China is located in Taipei, Taiwan. The official name of Taiwan government is recognized as Taiwan Authorities. Despite the political conflicts with the mainland government, it established a multi-party democracy. A president is elected by popular vote every four years. The state of Taiwan currently exercises its control over several islands: Penghu, Quemoy, Matsu, Itu Aba, and Pratas. The current president is Tsai Ing-wen (2018).

Economy
Unlike most of the East Asian nations, Taiwan adopted a capitalist economy, meaning individual owners have a right to choose their own products and open their own businesses for the purpose of earning money. This particular influence can be seen in the banks and industrial companies throughout Taiwan. They used to be owned by the state, but now many are owned by individual owners. With this unique economic structure, Taiwan has been marked as the highest Global Entrepreneurship Index in Asia in 2014. It rapidly grew to the 5th largest economy in Asia.

The popular industries of Taiwan include communications and information technology, electronics, chemicals, food processing,etc. Taiwan’s GDP in 2015 was worth 525.24 billion US dollars. It represents 0.85 percent of the world economy. It reached an all time high of 530.52 USD Billion in 2014. Taiwan’s best export partners are China, Hong Kong, the United States, Japan, and Singapore. Taiwan’s leading goods are ships, electronics, metals, and plastics. They also imports goods from Japan, China, and the United States. The major import is coal, electronics, machinery, etc.

In Taiwan, tourism is an important target market. In 2017, more than 10 million people visited Taiwan and it generated a worth of $366 million USD. Tourism is a fast-growing economy market in Taiwan.

Language
Mandarin Chinese is the official language of Taiwan. However, with high numbers of Han Chinese, people living in the southern part of the island speak a few different dialects besides Mandarin Chinese. Two indigenous languages, Hakka and Hokkien, are popular in Taiwan today. Hokkien is referred as a “Taiwanese Language” in English and Mandarin Chinese. There are other dialects, such as Formosan and Matsu, but they are not commonly spoken by people in Taiwan. The tourists are able to communicate with the locals in English and are welcomed into Taiwan.

Religion
Religious environment is an important part of Taiwanese culture. From ancient times, Taiwanese culture was influenced by folk religions, taoism, and buddhism: 98%. In modern days, other religions such as christianity 4.3 % was introduced to the community of Taiwan. Other religions like Islam still exist in Taiwan 2.5 %.The diversity of religion found in Taiwan is similar to the diversity found in the United States. Although, no tension exists between religions, the religious environment can be competitive. The mix of religions creates a unique cultural environment in Taiwan. The Buddhist and Taoist temples are thus far one of the popular tourist destinations in Taiwan.

Food and Diet
Food culture is an important aspect of Taiwanese culture. Taiwanese food is highly influenced by Buddhism. With the advancement of globalization, there are a variety of international cuisine restaurants in Taiwan. Some of the popular cuisines are French, Korean, and Japanese. Also, night markets are a center for local delicacies, such as stinky tofu. The biggest evening bazaar is Fengjia Night Market in Taichung. Additionally, beverages and drinks are an important part of Taiwan. Tainan’s Dongshan District is a coffee-growing region, Kinmen, and the Matsu Islands are famous for traditional alcohol production and all the night markets offer fresh fruit drinks and bubble teas. Tourists can try the following traditional food:

 Lurou Fan 

This is a mixture of finely chopped pork with seasoned soy sauce cooked and poured over white rice. A very popular main dish in Taiwan..

 Beef Noodles 

Beef cooked with Taiwanese spice put together with soup and noodles. This is a commonly eaten food in Taiwan.

 Xiaolong Bao 

Finely ground pork with savory broth is wrapped by paper-thin wrappings. These can be found and eaten on the street.

Guo Bao

Braised pork belly with brown sugar and soy sauce and pickled cabbage - filled in a steamed bun.

 Pineapple Cake 

This is the most famous pastry of Taiwan. Sweetened pineapples are filled in mini pies. They are famous souveniors from Taiwan.

 Bubble Tea 

Boiled tapioca balls put in milk tea, herbal tea, fresh fruit juice, and smoothie. This is Taiwanese popular drink offered in restaurants and night markets.

Customs and Countries
The customs of Taiwan reflect Chinese culture. With Confucian belief influences, Taiwanese culture is very collective. It is believed that each person belongs to the community. They follow strict age order and hierarchy. When one’s social status is higher than yours, you must show respect in behavior and language. This aspect of culture leads to “giving face” to others. Each individual is supposed to compliment, respect, and do anything that increases their self-esteem. Taiwanese people are very cooperative and respectful in this aspect of their culture.

In the state, gift giving etiquette is also usual and important. Many people gift exchange for Chinese New Year, Weddings, births, and funerals. There are a few rules of gift giving. One of the typical examples is to give scissors, knives, or other cutting utensils for the indication of a severe relationship.

Holidays
The biggest holiday is the Chinese New Year. Taiwanese people get a full week off during the holiday. A unique holiday is the Lantern Festival. It is believed that the God of heaven would destroy the island if lanterns were not hung up throughout the city. It is an ancient tradition that still lasts in Taiwan today. The most tourism popular time of the year is New Year's Day and Chinese New Year.


 * New Year’s Day
 * Chinese New Year
 * Peace Memorial Day
 * Lantern Festival
 * Children's Day
 * Tomb Sweeping Day
 * Mother’s day, Dragon Boat Festival
 * Father’s Day
 * Mid Autumn Festival
 * National Day
 * Double Ninth Day
 * Republic Day

Visa and Requirement
Visa is required to visit Taiwan unless the country you are visiting from is a visa exempt country. Passport holders of the visa exempt countries can stay in Taiwan for 90 days maximum. To stay in the country for school, work, and family purposes, the country requires each individual to obtain the right kind of visa.

 90 day visa exempt countries : Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Canada, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Republic of Korea, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Monaco, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, U.K., and Vatican City State.

 30 day visa exempt countries : Australia, Malaysia, Singapore, U.S.A..

Currency
The currency of Taiwan is the New Taiwan Dollars, NTD having been used since 1949. It is subdivided into 100 cents. The code of online currency is TWD. The currency rate changes daily

1 USD = 29.28 TWD

1 JPY = 27.33 TWD

1 EUR = 35.86 TWD

1 NZD = 21.25 TWD

Key Tourism Niche Market
 Food Tourism 

The biggest niche tourism in food tourism. Since Taiwan possesses a unique cultural background, food options are diverse in choice. At night markets, tourists can enjoy local delicacies such as stinky tofu, braised pork rice, bubble tea, etc. Food reflects the origin of Taiwanese culture and history. Because Taiwan is also globalized, the visitors do not have to worry about food choice. In most of developed cities in Taiwan, there are many international food options such as western and Southeast Asian Cuisine. For Taiwanese people, eating food is part of their social culture and is respected by many.

 Culture and Heritage 

Because several colonizations happened prehistorically, different kinds of cultural traces can be found throughout Taiwan. The mix of culture creates the social life lived by the Taiwanese people. Taiwan adopted cultural traits from each ethnic group including the Han Chinese, Japanese, Spanish, Dutch, and indigenous tribes. The gardens and farms in Taiwan are especially reflective of the long history of Taiwan. The visitors may be able to experience Taiwanese culture through historical sites and the Taiwanese heritage.

Level of Tourism Development
Today’s Taiwanese tourism development is fast-growing. The tourism market in Taiwan is increasing its number largely. Since Taiwan allowed mainland Chinese citizens to travel to the country, it has been one of the major destinations for Chinese. Also, Taiwan positively adopted English education along with the advancement of globalization in Taiwan.

Recently, the government has been engaged in tourism development in various ways. Taiwan opened up five national parks where tourists can visit and enjoy natural wonders and hot springs. It also provides the developing scenic spots, aiding in the sustainability of tourism resources, and creating new tourism attractions. The west coast is especially developed for tourism and leisure activity.

The major accommodations are hotels and resorts. There are not much of difference in between these two; however, traditional hotels in Taiwan are luxury designed. Resorts often include hotels, restaurants, amusement and leisure activities, such as kayaking, sightseeing, and hiking. It is more family friendly.

Transportation Options
Public transportation is a main way to get around Taiwan. The major transportation in Taiwan is the Mass Rapid Transit metro systems. This transportation system takes the tourists to nearby tourist sights. All tickets are sold in English and several different languages. The transit line is connected to major cities and airports. Besides that, bus and train are used by people and tourists. It is relatively cheap (between $2 to $5) and operated by both Mandarin Chinese and English. The tourist can rent a car with a International Drivers License. Since the roads are smaller and packed with cars on the street, driving a car might not be a good option in Taiwan.

Attractions
Taiwan is blessed with beautiful nature, diverse culture, and unique tradition. The people of Taiwan made good use of all the surrounding traits and turned them into tourist attractions. The major tourism products of Taiwan are culture and heritage tourism, nature tourism, and food tourism.The unique landform provides a number of national parks, diverse culture brings fun amusement to the tourists, and unique tradition makes all visitors feel involved in Taiwanese culture in distinctive ways.

Must-See Attractions
 National Palace Museum 

In this museum, the visitors can experience Chinese imperial history. Chiang Kai-Shek’s government preserved most of the displayed items from the mainland. This museum is a must-see for all travelers interested in the culture and history of Taiwan

 Taroko Gorge 

The gorge is located in the Taroko National Park. This leads to the Eternal Spring Shrine and a waterfall. This attraction is visited by as many people as Yushan National Park.

 Sun Moon Lake 

his is the largest body of water in Taiwan. This natural wonder is both a domestic and international destination. The cable car nearby can take the visitors to the Formosan Aboriginal Culture Village.

Longshan Temple

The temple was built in the 18th century. It is the most popular attraction in Taiwan. Many gods are enshrined in the temple and is a wonderful place to experience the religious environment of Taiwan. It is also famous for surviving World War II.

Secondary Attractions
 Shilin Night Market 


 * This night market is located near the National Palace Museum. It is located on the way to the museum and is a good location for tourists to stop by after visiting the museum. It is one of the biggest night markets in the Taipei area.

 Wenshan Hot Spring 


 * In Taiwan there are a number of natural hot springs, but this one particularly is located in Taroko National Park. The tourists need to take a narrow and steep trail down to find it. The tourist must pay attention to the condition of the trail. With the cold river right next to it, the travelers can enjoy the natural sauna.

 Yun Hsien Resort 


 * This resort is located in New Taipei City in Northern Taiwan. It is the first amusement park established in Taiwan. Tourists must take a cable car up on the mountain to get to the resort - it is the only way. Accommodations in the resort are a nature themed hotel, village, and restaurant.

 Hua Lu Flower Leisure Farm 


 * This is a flower farm located in Miaoli county in Northern Taiwan. The garden offers organic herbs and flowers grown there. The visitors may enjoy essential oils, plant-based food, and a hotel.

Weather and Climate Concerns
Taiwan is a tropical island where warm weather can be enjoyed throughout the year. The strong weather changes occur during spring and winter. Another possible concern is the typhoon season. Depending on the severity of the typhoon, tourists may be in danger during such a season. At least one powerful typhoon hits the island in August every year and causes flooding and damage to the island during summer.

Safety and Security Concerns
Unlike other tourism destinations, the crime rate is relatively low in Taiwan. Pickpocketing and bag snatching does happen, but the occurrence is rare and the tourists usually experience such danger in Taiwan. The violent crime rate is also low by world standards. However, the visitors should be careful with the barbershop and nightclubs where most crimes happen.

 Crime Rate (out of 132 countries) 

Violent crime: 2.7 (Ranked 10th)

Crime level: 13.57 (Ranked 91st)

Fear of crime – feels safe walking at night : 88.33 (Ranked 3rd)

Environmental Concerns
 Earthquake 

During the visit to Taiwan, tourists should pay attention to environmental problems. Since Taiwan is located on the Ring of Fire, there are several earthquakes the island experiences. All the visitors should be aware of earthquake survival procedures and have an evacuation plan from their hotels.

 Typhoons 

Since Taiwan is an island state in a tropical climate region, typhoons are common. During summer to fall, it is usually typhoon season for Taiwan. In these seasons, tourists should be aware of weather cast and know where the closest typhoon shelter is.

Socio-cultural Concerns
In accordance to the keeping-face-culture, Taiwan welcomes every visitor to the island. Currently in 2018, there are no socio-cultural conflicts against other cultures and races in Taiwan. The existence of diverse culture rather welcomes those who visit the country. There is rarely social unrest or demonstrations in Taiwan. Tourists are barely involved in such socio-cultural activities while traveling in Taiwan.

Emergency Contact
 Emergencies 

Taiwan is recognized by 20 countries - 19 of them have an embassy in Taipei. In addition, about 50 countries without diplomatic relations with Taiwan have trade travel offices in Taiwan. Citizens of these countries should seek for help in times of emergency: such as theft, passport issues, and potential vis problems.

 Emergencies 

Police emergencies: 110

Fire emergencies: 119

The FAP provides a 24-hourse service with English speaking officers: (02) 2556-6007 (Taipei); (07) 281-5019 (Kaohsiung); (02) 2394-0238 (all other areas)